Arrest in HK subway arson attack
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HONG KONG, China (Reuters) -- Hong Kong police have arrested a man in connection with an arson attack on a crowded subway train that injured 14 people and sent more than 1,000 fleeing in panic.
A 55-year-old was arrested at a hospital late on Monday after he sought treatment for burns, police said in a statement on Tuesday. He is being detained for questioning.
Witnesses said they saw a man setting something alight in the front carriage of the train during the rush hour on Monday morning. Some said they heard two explosions. Police found a bottle of paint thinner and a small gas cylinder at the scene.
Smoke engulfed the front of the train as it rolled into the busy Admiralty station near the heart of the city, but subway workers quickly put the fire out.
The injured, most of them women, but including a baby girl, were treated for smoke inhalation and shock. All were discharged from hospital.
The attack brought back memories of a blaze in the South Korean capital in February when nearly 200 people were killed when fire swept through a subway train. A 56-year old man with a history of mental problems was accused of starting the blaze.
Copyright 2004
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
